Contact: Dan Hubbard at (202) 783-9360 or dhubbard@nbaa.org
WASHINGTON, DC, August 8, 2005 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced the release of a new product the Association has developed to educate air charter users about the safety, operational and consumer issues related to flights conducted under Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, which are used by the charter industry.
The guide, titled the Aircraft Charter Consumer Guide, is another in a series of NBAA products for Members and non-Members alike to enhance the safety and efficiency of their flight operations.
“NBAA has long provided products, services and guidance in support of operational safety and efficiency,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “As more companies and individuals turn to on-demand air travel to meet their transportation needs, NBAA’s clear and comprehensive consumer guide will help air-charter customers become educated consumers, so they can make an informed choice about which operator is best suited for their needs.”
The valuable information for charter users provided in the guide includes:
- Procedures for finding charter operators and charter brokers
- Guidance for placing inquiries with the Federal Aviation Administration for charter safety information
- Information for locating contractors who audit charter companies for safety
- A list of sample pre-screening questions consumers may use to vet charter operators
- A Request for Proposals (RFP) template consumers can use to obtain and evaluate quotes for specific charter flights
To accompany the new guide, NBAA also has developed an Internet-based resource site for charter consumers at www.nbaa.org/charter. The site contains detailed information on aircraft charter safety, the FAA regulations that apply to charter operators, links to FAA regions and Flight Standards District Offices and charter operation auditing organizations. Sample pre-screening questions and a request for proposal for charter operators are available in HTML and Adobe PDF formats from the online resource.
The guide is available at no charge through NBAA at www.nbaa.org/charter.
The Aircraft Charter Consumer Guide is intended to provide general information to assist consumers in understanding how to select air charter operators. The types of questions suggested in the guide reflect the initial inquiry that a user of the guide might consider. In order to make a fully informed judgment, consumers should seek specific information beyond that identified in the guide.
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Founded in 1947, NBAA serves more than 7,000 Member Companies by promoting the aviation interests of organizations utilizing business aircraft in the United States and worldwide. The association provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.